Jersey are prepared for an autumn Muratti

JFA president Bradley Vowden said an autumn showdown, following the scheduled semi-final between the other two isles, could be an option.

His comments came after Jersey football responded to initially light-hearted speculation from this paper about a potential forfeit gathered momentum.

Prompted by an Inside Track comment piece 10 days ago, some in the domestic football community have mulled over a possible Alderney-Guernsey showdown, amid off-the-cuff suggestions that Jersey should pull out of the competition if their Covid-19 situation did not improve.

Alderney’s Muratti withdrawal in 1947 – due to a lack of players – was highlighted as a precedent and published before Guernsey went into a hard, no-notice lockdown on Saturday.

‘My reaction to it is that Rob is just trying to have a bit of a laugh,’ Vowden said, discussing the Inside Track comments, which slowly became less ‘tongue-in-cheek’ than first intended.

‘Where we are with it is all three islands are scheduled to meet at the beginning of March, when hopefully we will have a clearer vision for football. It’s certainly Jersey’s opinion that the Muratti will be held at some time later this year but we must be flexible in terms of when the final will be played.’

Vowden added: ‘We’re very keen to host the Muratti at some stage this year, having missed last year.

‘We’re keen to showcase the game in Jersey and give the players an opportunity to play in a prestigious game.

‘If it means it’s an opener to next season as a rehearsal to what’s going to come in 2021/22, then great. We can welcome back football and produce a real spectacle.

‘As long as it’s played sometime this calendar year, it doesn’t matter when.’

Meanwhile, it is understood that the JFA are determined to finish their current season, that is still in abeyance and has been for more than a month, and are lining fixtures up to run into June.

The Guernsey season has also been suspended with the island in lockdown.